Breakdown of Ich kann den Text nicht lesen, bevor du das Licht einschaltest.
ich
I
du
you (informal singular)
nicht
not
lesen
to read
Questions & Answers about Ich kann den Text nicht lesen, bevor du das Licht einschaltest.
Why is the verb einschaltest at the very end of the sentence?
The word bevor (before) is a subordinating conjunction. This means it introduces a dependent clause and forces the conjugated verb (einschaltest) all the way to the end of its clause.
I learned that einschalten (to turn on) is a separable verb. Why aren't the parts separated here?
You are exactly right, it is a separable verb! Normally, you would say something like Du schaltest das Licht ein. However, because bevor pushes the verb to the end of the clause, the prefix (ein) and the conjugated verb (schaltest) are forced back together into a single word: einschaltest.
Why are kann and lesen so far apart in the first half of the sentence?
The first part of the sentence uses a modal verb (kann). In German, the conjugated modal verb takes the second position, and the main action verb (lesen) is pushed in its dictionary form (infinitive) to the very end of that specific clause, right before the comma.
Why is it den Text instead of der Text?
Because the text is the direct object of the sentence, meaning it is the thing being read. This requires the accusative case, so the masculine word der Text changes its article to den Text.